MESS. HARDIE, TURNER, & STAIR’S DISTRICT, Aana and portion of the Tuamasaga.

Samoan Reporter, Issue 1, 1 March 1845, Page 3

MESS. HARDIE, TURNER, & STAIR’S DISTRICT, Aana and portion of the Tuamasaga.

Malua ; Mess. Hardie & Turner. Leulumoega; J. B. Stair.

Church Members, 122. Suspended, 12. Expelled, 3. Baptised 6 Children. Deaths 7.

None have been received into Church fellowship, during the past year, but there are a considerable number of candidates, some of whom are very hopeful, several of whom, we are just on the eve of admitting to communion. From time to time we have had sad failures, which leads us to be very cautious as to whom we receive. There is much lukewarmness amongst many of our Members, but others are active and appear desirous to honor their Lord and master, and benefit those around them. Ma lua, aud the Eastern portion of the district. In some places very good congregations are obtained, and the two brethren who reside there, are enabled to supply the whole of their preaching stations, every Sabbath-day.

Leulumoega, and Western portion of the district. The attendance upon the public means of grace is most encouraging. The Sabbath is indeed a day of rest and cessation from labor, and numbers flock to the House of God in company.

During the past year I have succeeded in uniting some scattered congregations into one. Every village is provided with a good substantial chapel, of various dimensions. Some of them are very small, and widely separated. My strength would not admit of my supplying more than two on the Sabbath, and the prejudice and jealousy of the people rendered it necessary that services should be conducted in the several chapels, they refusing to unite in attending worship at another village, although within two minutes walk of each other. Finding that as the gospel began to make way amongst them, their prejudices decreased, I proposed an occasional union. This was acceeded to; and led to the permanent union of the three largest congregations every Sabbath morning, and for occasional services as often as required. God appears to have prospered this arrangement, and now our places of worship, in which we hold our united meetings, are become too strait for us. In fine weather the congregation is large to overflowing, generally averaging upwards of 500. We are now making arrangemants to pull down our chapel at this place, Leulumoega, in size about 72 by 24ft, and which has just cost the people a great deal of property, and to build another of much larger dimensions, in which work 6 villages will unite.

Our Sabbath School continues to be well attended, averaging’ from 250 to 300 children, many of whom come from places three miles' distant. The teachers now appear to take an interest in their work, and are regular in attendance. I make a point of delivering a short and simple address to the children, at noon. Many of them appear attentive, and a manifest improvement in their outward deportment is visible. Bible Classes. On Monday afternoon I hold a Bible Class for young men, at which about 150 attend regularly ; and on Tuesday afternoon one for females, which is attended by 250 or upwards. The Contributions last year for promoting the cause of God, have rather increased than diminished. In Oct. 1844 we commenced a general Concert of work in aid of Missions. Upwards of 500 gave in their names, and commenced immediatly. Amongst them are more than 100 children. Here, as in England, in this, as in every other good work, the females are foremost and most zealous, Since the arrival of the “ John Williams,” the Sabbath School children have contributed nobly, havingbrought 383 properties, in siapo, afa, &c. and amongst which were 106 strings of beads, which they have hitherto thought much of. The people generally throughout the district are subscribing native cloth, and they have taken a considerable quantity of food to the vessel for sea stores. While writing this a very pleasing fact has come to my knowledge. Finding a difficulty in purchasing pigs at the harbor, Captain Morgan sent a boat down to try and purchase some in my district. In one place they had a meeting, and resolved not to sell any to the vessel. The messenger who came to inform me of their decision, said, that although they would not sell, they would give ten good sized pigs. They said, had a whaler or merchant vessel wished to have purchased from them, they would have sold; but, said they, we have long prayed to God for the safe arrival of this our vessel, and now she is come shall we sell to her? “ She is the wings of the word of God.” She conveys it from Island to Island, and shall we sell to her? No we will give, but we cannot sell. Feb. 23. 1845. J. B. STAIR.